Good morning. We will call this session order session to order. Thank you very much. And we will begin with a roll call and I believe we do have at least one member online this morning.
all right good morning Commissioner Bocco Commissioner Escalante
Commissioner Hart Commissioner Jackson Commissioner Kelly Commissioner Lopez
actually I'm on the wrong sheet I didn't have the let me just start over
Commissioner Dummelow? Here. Commissioner Eckerly? Here. Commissioner Hart? I've got
me twice but I'm still here. Yeah I went back I went back. Oh I see. No problem. Commissioner Jackson? Here.
Commissioner Kelly? Here. Commissioner Lowenberg? Here. Commissioner Knuthoff? Here. Commissioner
press the auto Commissioner Turnbull Sanders Commissioner Williams here
Commissioner Wilson present a chair Harmon we have a quorum
now we'll move to the virtual meeting procedures please good morning this
coastal commission meeting is occurring both in person and through zoom this
This meeting is also being webcast and can be viewed online at Cal-SPAN.org.
If you have internet access and wish to watch or listen to the meeting only and not speak
on an item, we recommend you use the Cal-SPAN website.
Those who wish to address the Commission today can do so in person through the Zoom platform
or by phone.
The speaker request form may be found on the Commission webpage.
forms and a scanable QR code for paper lists and middles are available on the
Commission staff table just outside the meeting room. For those on Zoom we have
posted virtual hearing procedures on the Commission agenda webpage which is a
guide on providing comments via Zoom or by phone. Members of the public speaking
during general public comments may be given up to two minutes to speak at the
discretion of the chair. Requests to speak during the general public comment
That period will not be accepted after 9 a.m. on each day of the meeting.
In order to provide the opportunity for the broadest range of public participation, you
may speak on a specific topic one time only each month.
Those speaking on an agenda item that is not general public comment are typically allowed
two to three minutes to speak at the discretion of the chair.
accept a request to speak on a regular agenda item up until the chair opens the
the hearing on that particular item. If you have internet access please go to
the Commission's webpage and click on the link to fill out a speaker request.
If you do not have internet access or prefer to testify by phone please call
the Commission staff at 562 477 9 0 8 9. Again, that number is 562 477 9 0 8 9.
Staff will provide you with a telephone call and number and instructions for how
to participate and provide testimony by phone. We will manage speakers coming in
and out of the meeting through the meeting organizer. When is your time to
address the Commission, the organizer will invite you to turn on your video
and microphone or provide instructions on how to unmute the phone. Madam Chair,
that concludes the virtual hearing procedures. Thank you, Simone. Now I will turn it to our Chief Counsel for a report out from closed session yesterday. Thank you, Chair Harmon. The
Commission met in closed session and it received litigation information and
advice and took action on the following cases. City of Fort Bragg vs. Mendocino
railway and defend Bionna wetlands versus California Coastal Commission. It also received
litigation information and advice on the following cases Friends of Oceania Dunes versus California
Coastal Commission at all and Friends of Oceania Dunes versus California Department of Parks and
Recreation at all and finally Space Exploration Technologies Court versus California Coastal
Commission. That concludes my report. Thank you Ms. Warren. Now we'll move to agenda changes.
Good morning, Chair Harmon and commissioners. We have three changes to today's agenda.
First, item 9A, the LCP amendment for Humboldt County's sign ordinance is smooth to consent.
Item 10A, the application by resource environmental solutions in Mendocino County
is postponed. And last item 11A, the Lucerne Arboring application in Cayucas was withdrawn.
and that concludes our agenda changes for today. Great, thank you very much. Now we will move to
general public comment please. Perfect. For members of the public I'll be announcing the names of the
upcoming speakers and invite you to speak when it's your turn. Each speaker will be allowed two
minutes during general public comments at the discretion of the chair. In order to allow for
live video testimony on Zoom we will be bringing you in as a panelist. As we bring you in your Zoom
will reload. This may take a moment to speed up this process. We will bring
several people in at a time, but please remain muted and keep your video off
until we ask you to speak. After your time is up, you will be moved back to
attendee mode. For the members of the public present in the room, I will call
your name in the order that they appear on our sign-up list. When you hear your
name, please line up behind the podium and introduce yourself when you
approach to speak. There is a raise hand function that will help us find you in
the attendee list. If you are using a phone for audio you can raise your hand
by dialing star 9. If you are participating by zoom you should see a
button on your zoom screen. If you have signed up to speak for this item and are
able to do so please raise your hand now. When is your time to speak we will
invite you to unmute and turn on your camera. You can unmute yourself on a
phone by dialing star six. First up we have 21 speakers in person. First up is
Bonnie Earnest followed by Lucia Casale Nuevo followed by Charles Barney followed
by L. Jane Swanson. Good morning commissioners and staff. Happy Friday. My
My name is Bonnie Ernst, I'm from Oceano, California.
I'm here to speak about the Oceano Airport, L52.
L52 sits squarely in the heart of our coastal land.
It's fenced, fully fenced with a no trespassing policy.
The surrounding airport land use restrictions
affect all of Oceano.
And in December, 2023,
Slow County airports came before the commission
seeking approval for multiple projects
that included a private campground,
a new pilot's lounge,
and they assured you that a update was funded
and in the works, a master plan update.
This commission, with its deep understanding
of the community impact, directed them
to first address the existing environmental
and economic injustice problems associated with the airport.
This commission suggested they do
and independent land use study and vision plan.
Now, nearly three years later,
SLO airports has done nothing
to meet those demands or concerns.
What they have done is repair hangar one,
install more opaque fencing and request bids
for runway, taxiway, and apron resurfacing.
What we expect in the future is a drip, drip, drip
of small projects, all labeled maintenance,
enabling them to do an end run around the Coastal Commission.
Promises of L52 being a major asset to our community
are smoke and mirrors.
In my travels, which I've had a chance to do recently,
I've gone to a lot of places that have wetlands and parks
and playgrounds and walkways and bikeways,
and I keep wondering, why not Oceano?
Why not in my town?
And why are we under the thumb of high-end recreation
just to be able to eat?
I hope you get to see the airport.
If you do, just don't park in that parking lot
because it's private.
Next is Lucia Casalini Nuevo, followed by Charles Varney,
followed by Elle Jane Swanson.
Good morning, everyone.
Oceano Beach Community Association,
Luceco Salino.
I'm here to expand on a comment,
on a question made by commissioner Knuthoff
on the LCP of the San Luis Obispo County
in regard with the ODSVRA.
I'm not gonna talk about the ODSVRA.
And the answer given by our, by the executive director.
You asked, and actually you said
that the ball now is in the county's court.
Well, of course it is.
It has always been,
but the county hasn't taken any responsibility
for the last 40 years.
So, but in reality, it is up to you now
to recommend to the county that it does change the LCP.
You cannot change the LCP, of course,
and in that she was right.
However, the court said directly,
and I'm gonna read and I wrote it on your flyer over there,
in this situation, it's verbatim from the judge,
the commission's remedy is to submit recommendations
of corrective actions so that it should be taken
to the local government, that's the county,
and thereafter, if necessary, to the legislature.
So that means that right now you have the power
and the responsibility,
because you are the one who led the process so far.
So you should agendize as soon as possible
that you write a letter of recommendation to the county
that our LCP is not in conformity with your new findings
and with the Coastal Act
and that they should take corrective actions.
Please do not wait for the county to start the process.
They never will.
We did a talk to the supervisors
and they have no intention of doing anything,
just they haven't done anything for the last 40 years.
Please keep the fight on, thank you.
Thank you, next is Charles Barney,
followed by L. Jane Swanson, followed by Jill Zammick,
followed by Kate Christensen, followed by Joe Gusly.
And if I could just briefly remind you,
when you hear your name called,
if you could please start to line up,
that way we'll be able to move more quickly, thank you.
Thank you.
Good morning.
Charles Varney, Oceano,
past president of the Oceano Advisory Council
and past president and director
of the Oceano Community Services District.
I'm here to speak about the Oceano Airport,
which is simply a playground for private pilots.
It houses about a dozen hangers,
and I think there's maybe one person from Oceano
that has one of those hangers.
It dominates 80 acres of prime coastal land,
and it contributes literally nothing to the local economy.
It has no fixed-based operations.
The private pilots and the county airport
promote it as a major driver
of economic development in Oceano
with new high-tech development coming in,
clamping for private pilots and critical emergency services.
In fact, all of these are myths.
They're just rationalizations and justifications
to keep the private pilot playground
at taking up the land resources of Oceano.
The attempt to put more lipstick
and better wigs on this pig of an airport,
it's always going to be a playground.
Ms. Ernst, I think spoke well to the directives
that you have given in the past,
the direction that you've asked them to go,
the plan that you expect from them,
They're addressing economic and environmental justice issues
and impacts of the airport on the community.
And I would encourage you the next time
that they come in to hold their feet to the fire.
Thank you very much.
Thank you, Nexus.
Jimmy Paulding, followed by L. James Swanson,
followed by Jill Zamick.
Thank you, Supervisor.
Come on up.
Apologies for not calling me first.
No worries.
Good morning.
Yeah, good morning commissioners.
Nice to see you here.
Jimmy Paulding, I serve as the fourth district
representative on the board of supervisors.
So I represent the South County region.
Welcome to San Luis Obispo County.
Hope you had a good couple evenings
and enjoyed our good weather, wine, and food.
So today I came to speak actually
about the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant.
I know it's not on your agenda,
but just wanted to give you my feedback.
I've been on the board for two and a half years.
I grew up here.
I love this community.
Diablo Canyon has always been one of those questions
in our mind.
As a local resident, as a community member,
I too am concerned about making sure
that that is a safe plant to operate.
That it can be done in an environmentally responsible way.
And I know that your commission has had some concerns
about that in the past.
What I wanna urge today is just for you
to keep an open mind as to the necessity of that plant
and the power that it provides
for our state of California, almost 9% of our grid.
the fact that when we look at any public policy matter,
obviously public safety comes first,
that's always been my priority.
There was a recent report by the NRC that really looked
at its safety and beta safety determination
that it would be safe to continue operation beyond 2030.
And then there's the independent safety panel
and they do a ton of analysis.
I've recently gone through some of their reports
and things are looking pretty good.
So I just want you to hopefully keep an open mind
because you will be a key decision maker
here in that matrix in the future.
I certainly am supportive of seeing us go past 2030
and think that, again, we can do that in a responsible way,
not only for the economic reason of it's good
for our local economy and jobs and all that,
but for the necessity of that power that we need.
And I think we can do it again
in an environmentally responsible manner.
Well, I've got ya.
I wanna speak a little bit to the Oceano Airport
hopefully the ODSVRA, you know, on the Oceano Airport.
I, I know that's it.
Okay, I'll come back at another time.
Thank you so much.
Okay, there I am, okay.
Jane Swanson, San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace.
My topic is also Diablo Canyon.
This commission has an opportunity to fulfill its mission
and I quote, to protect and enhance California's coast
and ocean for present and future generations," unquote.
I urge this commission to take into account
PG&E's inconsistency in applying to the Coastal Commission
for permits to operate for five years until 2030.
This period of time is endorsed
by California's Senate Bill 846.
But simultaneously, PG&E is also applying to the NRC
for an additional 20 years until 2045.
Any additional years of operation would add to the amount
of high level radioactive waste sitting there
with nowhere to go.
And increasing the risks to all living beings downwind.
Multiple earthquake faults,
including a thrust fault directly under the plant.
Let me know if you want the video of that discussion
at the Independence Safety Committee.
So with a thrust fault directly under the plant,
these present substantial risks.
While PG&E claims that the plant and its spent fuel pools
could withstand any earthquakes that might occur,
the reality is that neither the timing nor the magnitude
of earthquakes can be predicted,
and the stakes are extremely high.
A major radiation release would make this land uninhabitable
for three generations.
And there is no insurance coverage
that would meaningfully compensate the owners
of the homes, businesses, or agricultural land.
I'm asking this commission to set its priority
on the health and safety of the residents of California,
not the profits of PG&E.
Thank you, Nexus Jill Zammock,
followed by Kay Christensen, followed by Joe Gustely.
Hello, I'm Jill Zamak.
I live in the Royal Grande,
downwind from dirty and dangerous Diablo Canyon.
I understand that unit one's consistency certification
and coastal development permits have expired
and that unit twos will expire next month.
Although Senate Bill 846 provides
for a five-year extension of this nuclear plant,
PG&E has applied for a 20-year license renewal.
Those extra 15 years make a profound
and very risky difference.
Construction began in 1968.
It didn't receive its low power license until 1984.
This is a very old facility.
Compounding the aging components and equipment,
it sits on a multitude of active earthquake faults.
Its once-due cooling system
continues to harm the marine life in the surrounding area
due to impingement, entrainment, and thermal pollution.
Multiple waivers have been given to PG&E,
but if they intend to continue operation
for another 20 years,
it must be required to install cooling towers.
I'm here before you to insist that PG&E
provide a thorough analysis
of these environmental risks and impacts,
and that a hearing be held on these issues.
Thank you.
Thank you Kate Christensen followed by Joe Gustly
followed by David Brown.
Hi, good morning.
Nice day three, nice foggy morning out there.
My name is Kate Christensen
and I'd like to congratulate Chair Harmon.
So nice to have you from the Central Coast
and all of you and all of your amazing work.
So I'm gonna say three things
about the dunes and the beach in Oceano.
Your decision, number one, your decision back in 2021
was absolutely the correct decision.
It was courageous.
It really was a vision for the future.
It was the right decision.
Thank you for that.
And the closure in 2020 for seven months,
that allowed us to actually see the vision
of what Oceano could be, what the beach could be,
what a new economic future could be.
And it was so real, just vividly real.
I can see it, and I could say it right now.
But one thing that was amazing, I saw a sand dollar, like,
crawl.
I didn't know that they would do that.
They crawl on the beach.
And kite surfers with seagulls dropping.
The seagulls were dropping the clams to break them open.
Clams on the beach.
It was amazing.
Families.
Anyway, number three is that now we have to continue.
We have the vision, you know,
you've made a courageous decision
and just being here for a few minutes, you know,
your work over 50 years is just, you know,
phenomenal, so necessary and so important.
And we will keep going.
That vision is real and it will become.
And there is a way.
I have been in a doom buggy.
I have camped on the beach.
And you know, it's wonderful, but thank you for your work
and we will work hard too to make this real.
Thank you.
Thank you all.
Joe Gustely followed by David Brown followed
by Greg Askin then Linda Reynolds.
Turn your mic.
Your mic hit the base of it.
Oh, there it is.
OK.
Thank you, commissioners, for the opportunity to speak.
My name is Joe Gustely.
I'm a Nipomo resident living not two miles
from Phillips 66 property.
I'm also retired RN and I still value my training
in health risk prevention and I practice that myself.
My subject is that I oppose creating another entry
for the ODS VRA into a yet to be rehabilitated area
of an oil refinery.
I do not believe it is right to increase access
for a dangerous pastime.
The slow tribune documented over 46 deaths
from dune riding within only the past 33 years.
That does not even include the dozens of injuries
every single year from that sport.
Why encourage more by allowing another entry
into the free-for-all sand landscape of the dunes?
Promising a southern entrance route now would be premature.
The County of San Luis Obispo has yet to weigh in
on the best uses for the 1,600 acre site.
The county has described future uses,
such as a regional park with hiking trails,
camping and beach access.
It would be unfair to give state parks
their southern access now.
And finally, if this access route were permitted,
that noise, even more airborne dust would be a nuisance
for thousands of my South County neighbors.
We would protest this.
Please consider voting against state parks plan.
It's very important to mitigate nuisances.
Thank you very much.
Good morning, Director Harmon and commissioners.
I'm David Brown, I'm the present mayor of Solvang,
came all the way down to visit you
and give up my able skewers this morning.
I wanted to talk to you, well, first of all,
I appreciate all of you and three days of meetings
is above and beyond the call of duty, in my opinion,
having, I'm empathetic for all the meetings
that you have to attend.
And also, I'm reminded of our Will Rogers
and his wisdom never miss a good opportunity to shut up.
So I'll be quick.
I'm here on behalf, not on behalf,
but I want to advocate for PG&E and Diablo Canyon.
I've been to their facility a number of times
and I find that their strategic in and usefulness
and ability to produce clean water.
Clean energy on our Central Coast is phenomenal.
Having been there, I see their efforts for biological,
marine biology and the like,
and the advancements they've actually contributed
to working with UCSB and Cal Poly
in a number of fashions that way.
They're a responsible advocate
social partner in what we do and for the energy demands that we have in
California and for our nation. So with that I'd like to let you know that we
appreciate them as a partner and would like to see their continuation in the
energy production here on the Central Coast. Thank you.
Now do we have it?
Thanks, good.
My name is Greg Haskin.
I'm the executive director of CoLab SLO.
CoLab SLO is a 501c6 nonprofit organization
representing a coalition of labor, agriculture,
and business throughout San Luis Obispo County.
We're here today to strongly endorse
a 20-year operating permit
for the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant.
Aside from the obvious need for a clean, reliable source
supporting our sometimes insufficient
state electrical grid,
the power plant plays a key role in the economics
of our residents in San Luis Obispo County.
As the largest private employer in the county,
PG&E contributes to the well-being,
not only of over 1,500 employees and their families,
but the many local services and products
that those families depend on.
These are well-paid jobs and without a long-term future,
many of those will begin to drift off
to more stable employment.
In five years without the long-term permit,
they will either be unemployed,
displacing other job seekers, or gone.
The plant pays an estimated $43 million in personal
and corporate income taxes to the federal government
and about the same amount to Social Security.
It pays almost $9 million to local school districts
and about $8 million to the county in taxes.
These are significant funds to a community
struggling to keep the local economy
strong enough to pay its bills.
Further, PG&E has a robust and much appreciated presence
throughout our community in terms of support
and participation for nonprofits and service providers.
The investment made in the plant and its infrastructure
should not be dismissed.
The cost of building enough generation
to replace Diablo Canyon is astronomical,
and the time required to do so
would present enormous challenges to our grid.
Thank you for your time,
and we hope you have an open mind with Diablo Canyon.
Linda Reynolds, followed by Rachel Tote,
followed by John Giuseppe, or Gilseppe.
Good morning. My name is Linda Reynolds and I live on the Mesa in
the South County
First of all, I want to thank you again
Like everybody else has for all your time and efforts and to listen to the public on issues here in our county
First I want to address the recent
April 22nd
2025 letter from the off-highway vehicle Commission asking for a south and a southern entrance
for the OHV park.
All this does is move an existing problem self.
Where is the environmental justice
for the residents of the Mesa and Guadalupe for such a move?
This would be subjecting farm workers,
which we have a lot of folks around us,
around our community and other Nipomo area,
contractors who work outside,
and the school children who like to play outside
to a poor air quality, which we live with
a good part of the time in Nepal,
or sometimes the air is the worst in the nation.
So I volunteer in Guadalupe at the Boys and Girls Club.
When you go down there, it's off 11th Street,
you're right there near the dunes.
And when that wind comes up,
which it does just about every day,
it's going to be a direct hit for children or people
that are outside if this OHV park was moved
to a southern entrance.
Excuse me.
Again, the proposal is definitely environmentally
just injustice and exasperating
of serious issue we have already.
Thank you for your time again
and thank you for serving our state of California.
Good morning.
Rachelle Todi, also NAPOMO Mesa resident.
I'm speaking this morning in response
to a commissioner question that happened on Wednesday
after the public comment period.
At the end of public comment on Wednesday,
a commissioner asked a question about overdue annual reviews
at the Oceano Dunes SVRA.
By the way, I've passed out,
or you should have my talking points here.
The answer given was that the annual review was part of the 2021 Coastal Commission decision
that had been vacated.
However, the annual review was also part of the 1982 Coastal Development Plan, which is
still in effect.
And I give you the, I've highlighted the paragraph, so quick reading.
The Coastal Commission has a second review responsibility to review every certified LCP,
at least every five years to determine
whether the program is being implemented
in conformity with Coastal Act policies.
I do not know if that has been done
in the case of the San Luis Obispo County LCP,
but I suggest it be done if it hasn't been done,
and that would tie in with the making
of recommendations to the county.
If the LCP is not carried out in conformity
with any policy of the Coastal Act,
The commission can submit recommendations
of corrected action, which we've spoken about before.
I hope that the staff will be able to proceed
on these reviews in the near future.
Thank you so much for your time and efforts.
Thank you, next is John Gillespie,
followed by Jeff Chambers, followed by Brenda Ayers.
Are?
That's it.
All right.
Good job.
All right, thank you.
My name is John Gillespie.
I love the ocean.
I've been fishing for 30 years and educated in oceanography, sociology, and I'm speaking
in rebuttal to almost all the claims I hear of offshore wind benefits, their proposal
of an ultimate build out into the all the primary production zones on the
coast of California, Oregon, and Washington. They'll interfere with the
with an ocean ecosystem that is pretty pristine and industrializing the ocean
is I find an incompatible move for the nature of our regions, coastal regions.
That's an emotional subject. The thought of encountering these these
industrialization moves and the effect on the ecosystem, the culture of mammals
and all the other animals that live out there.
I've roamed this coast, Northern America from Mexico
to Alaska, and it's kind of a heartbreaker.
It's like I saw yesterday, they're saying the seals
are dying in La Jolla Cove from overexposure to people.
It's much like that for the cultures of the oceans,
the whales, they'll probably move on
if they if they survive. Thank you very much for being here and hoping to do something about it.
Good morning commissioners. Thank you for holding this meeting here on the central coast and giving
us an opportunity to speak on such critical issues for our region and state. My name is
Jeff Chambers and I serve as the CEO of the South County Chambers of Commerce. Representing over 500
businesses and thousands of employees throughout San Luis Obispo County.
I'm here today to voice our strong support for the continued operation of
Diablo Canyon power plant through 2030 and beyond. Diablo Canyon is not only a
cornerstone of our local economy providing over 1,300 high-quality jobs
and significant regional economic activity during routine refueling out
outages, it is also essential to California's clean energy future. As the
largest clean energy producer in the state supplying approximately 17% of
California's carbon-free electricity, this output cannot currently be replaced
by existing renewable resources. As business leaders, we are deeply concerned
about the energy reliability and affordability. Diablo Canyon's 24 7 power
helps ensure grid stability especially during peak summer months and prevents
costly blackouts that can severely impact small businesses and essential
services. Keeping the plant online is projected to save California ratepayers
over 500 million dollars annually. While helping the state avoid millions of
of tons of greenhouse gas emissions.
California's climate goals are ambitious and rightly so,
but achieving them requires a balanced approach.
Extending Diablo Canyon's operations
gives us the time and stability needed
to responsibly bring more renewables online
without jeopardizing affordability, reliability,
or economic growth.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Brenda Ayers, followed by Kathy DePeri,
followed by Debbie Highfield, followed by Sean Pringle.
Good morning commission and everyone involved here today.
Welcome to the Central Coast.
I pray that you all had an opportunity
to get to go and see the whales.
I fish out here.
It's National Geo.
We are blessed.
I pray of you, before you make decisions
about our Central Coast, please visit our area.
If you need a tour guide, I offer my services.
I'm the owner broker of our real estate,
and I've lived on the Central Coast now for 25 years.
Please visit Oceano.
The airport, Pier Avenue, not all of you,
but a lot of people voted to have closed down,
was a mistake.
The airport is now the only emergency services
that we have to transport people from the Central Coast.
Consider that, go visit it, there's plenty of parking.
And I park in that parking lot all the time.
Just go check it out.
While you're here, go to Avila, please.
And the gem of Montana de Oro, right around the corner,
who would want to spoil that pristine view
with what they're trying to do
to commercialize my ocean where I fish?
I want to continue to enjoy it, please consider that.
There was a lot of smart people I've
heard in the last couple days.
They talk about climate change.
Maybe while they talk about climate change,
they should also talk about the last four decades
of manipulating the weather.
We're all participating.
Some of the money that you and I pay the government
has gone into that.
Let's not just say, let's get to the facts
of what it really is, OK?
What's happened across our country?
If we weren't trying to manipulate the weather,
maybe things would be different.
Think about that, please.
I pray for peace all over the world.
If we could just share a little love
and kindness with each other,
our planet would be much better.
Please consider the grassroots communities
as big voices, thank you.
Next is Kathy DePeri, followed by Debbie Highfield,
followed by Sean Pringle, followed by Sean Metzler.
Is it on?
Thank you for being here.
I'm here to speak about the issue with Diablo Canyon,
and I know you guys are all on the commission
because you care about the ocean and the environment.
Unfortunately, I've heard a couple politicians even today
that make me feel like most decisions are made
on monetary issues as opposed to really environmental
and people that really care about the ocean.
I've lived in San Jose County for over 40 years,
and I opposed the nuclear power plant.
And they opened it even though a mass majority
of the public was against it.
And as the Mothers for Peace have spoken
and people have spoken today,
there's been a lot of problems.
They were just fined $43 million for a forced outage
because of a technical issue.
Probably the only reason they've been as safe
as they have been is because the Mothers of Peace
have been keeping their toes to the fire
every time there's an issue.
Right now there's a permit that's going to end and they have a permit that didn't end
that needs to be recertified or whatever.
And the, I want to talk about the massive amounts of fish and wildlife that are killed
because of the intake, those are serious issues.
And if you care about the ocean, you should be caring about that,
not just making decisions on financial matters.
as well the embrittlement of the unit one,
they haven't tested it for over 20 years
when they were supposed to.
So their record isn't as great
as some of these politicians are saying it is.
And listening to other people talk about other issues
like the wind and the writing of the ATVs on the beach,
those are all concerns.
And we shouldn't just be making the decisions
on financial matters.
I hope that some of you have integrity
and have a confidence for future generations.
Thank you.
Hi, I'm Debbie Heifel.
I live in the evacuation zone for Diablo Canyon.
Excuse me.
And the expression is not safety second
after tax money.
I'm a teacher.
I taught for San Luis Coastal.
I get it that Diablo brings in a lot of tax money,
but the embrittlement issue, which I hope you look at,
it's on record.
If we needed to shut down unit one,
which was supposed to be shut down November last year,
it is said that it is possible that it will explode
because of the embrittlement,
which means the integrity of the structure
has eroded over so much time
that it is now very dangerous.
There are 13 known faults around Diablo
to go under the plant and intersect.
It is the worst place to put a nuclear reactor.
It is the most dangerous one in the nation.
When we had the anniversary of the Fukushima catastrophe,
I had two young women in their 20s staying at my home.
I asked them, we had a commemorative ceremony
that the Mothers for Peace put on.
I asked them, why did you come all this distance from Japan?
And they looked at me and they said,
We didn't know what else to do.
This is important.
You are our last hope, as far as I know,
to prevent what could very much be similar to Fukushima
with that seismic situation.
Please take it seriously.
It's important.
Thank you.
Next is Sean Pringle, followed by Sean Metzler,
followed by Rachel Wilson, and then Steve Ray.
Good morning, members of the Coastal Commission.
My name is Sean Pringle.
I'm a civil engineer at Diablo Canyon Power Plant.
I've been there for about nine years.
I'm also a member of the San Luis Obispo community.
I've been there here for the past 33 years.
I was born and raised here,
and most of my family still lives here.
And that's important because it means
that I go to work every day looking out
for the safety of my family in our fellow community
and ensuring that our power plant continues
to operate safely and reliably.
Diablo Cane provides electricity
for roughly 4 million Californians.
As it's been mentioned,
it provides head of household jobs for about 1,300 families,
and that doesn't include an even greater number
during our refueling outages.
It is the largest private employer in San Luis Obispo County,
and we're also the largest clean energy producer
in the state of California.
We have a very strong environmental stewardship program.
One of my friends is a diver at the power plant,
and I'm always impressed by the photos she shows me
of the very strong marine life
that we have around our marina.
I'm very proud to work out at Diablo Canyon,
and I very much appreciate your time and consideration today
hearing from all of us.
Thank you.
Thank you, next is Sean Metzler,
followed by Rachel Wilson and Steve Ray.
Good morning, everybody.
I just thought this was gonna be
about Diablo Canyon talking,
but I guess it's more things about it.
That's fine.
I live in Los Osos.
I'm a 20-year Army Signal Corps veteran,
and I really think that power is everything.
I mean, there's no clean form of power.
It just doesn't exist.
There's just power that is less dirty.
I mean, I've been to a meeting in Morro Bay High School
about wind power off the coast.
That was interesting.
Just, we need reliable power.
And with the population and the community
and everything that requires on power,
which is literally everything,
whether it's your home, your car, your business, whatever.
It's security, it's stability,
it's cost of quality of life.
So, sure, Diablo has faults, but it's reliable.
And it doesn't require the wind or the sun,
or you flip the switch, it works.
You come home, your lights work.
We need clean, reliable power.
Gavin Newsom did extend the contract for it
because it didn't produce air pollution, which is nice.
And I'm not a big fan of other policies of his,
but that's beside the point.
But yeah, I think it's something that should stay open
for as long as we can do it safely and reliably.
And like everyone else said before me,
they got more knowledge about it than me.
And everyone has good talking points,
but we do need this for our community,
for a reliable power for steady support and I think it should stay open as long
as it can do it safely and environmentally sound and that's that's
my thoughts. Have a nice day everybody. Thank you Rachel Wilson followed by
C. Ray those are the last two that are in person the rest will be on Zoom. Good
morning my name is Rachel Wilson I'm from Cayucas I've spoken a lot about
more obey specifically the best plant I would really like to welcome also the
new commissioners one of the number one things with the battery energy storage
system is getting proper siting guidelines and proper safety guidelines
before any structure is built I am definitely for clean energy but to be
clean it means that it has to be safe and Moss Landing taught us a few things
Number one is Moss Landing did not have the proper testing equipment on site
when it caught on fire. It did not have the hydrogen fluorine gas detectors. Those
had to come in. So right now I'm working with a group working on promoting a
moratorium in San Luis Obispo County until we can get proper safety siting
guidelines they need to be put in safe places that's number one but number two
proper safety guidelines it turns out that in more in San Luis Obispo County
we have a new battery energy storage system in Napomo yet our County safety
personnel have not had the opportunity to develop the proper evacuation routes
to develop the proper emergency procedures, so then one of the things in
the moratorium we are going to add or requesting is that they have the proper
safety equipment. Diablo Canyon has to have proper safety equipment. They have
the proper evacuation drills and have all of these things ahead of time because
green energy is not green unless it's safe. Plus slowing it down just a bit
There's technology out there that is on the cusp of being better than our current systems.
So anyway, right now, Morro Bay has a moratorium.
We are asking San Francisco County to have a moratorium.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Steve Ray and then our first Zoom speakers will be Gary Hedrick, Diane Edmonds, Mary Beth
Brangen and James Heddle.
Well, good morning, Chair Harmon, commissioners, staff and other staff.
members of the public. I'm Steve Ray. First of all, I spared you having to
listen to me yesterday by not addressing you. You're welcome. But today I want to
begin a conversation with you that will continue and this is in the future at
future meetings. I hear a lot of squeaking here going on. Yeah, this will
continue in future meetings and the topic is yes we can do both and what I
want to talk about is climate change and the causes and impacts of climate
change and as we go through this further conversation in the future I want to
talk about how in my opinion most of the people that come here and address you
are all in understand and support have wanting to do something about climate
change. There are people out there, they're exhorting drill, baby drill, but most of us
know where the future lies and clean energy and having to do something about it. So as
we traverse down the future, a whole lot of comments recently. Can I stop the time there
for a second there until we get this iron down here. It's okay. Okay. Okay, the
here, all the people that come in here are pretty much supporters of doing
something about this. It's your job as the Coast Commission, of course, to to
study its impacts, make sure that that does impact and anything that's done
about it, what impacts there might be on the coastal resources and on the people
along the coast, and access to the coast.
So, as we go through, we'll talk about how we can find ways
to come to the understanding that it is possible
to totally support the energy, and also to be opposed
to some of the ways of going about it.
Thank you very much.
Thank you.
Gary Hedrick, followed by Diane Edmonds,
and Mary Beth Brangen.
Gary Hedrick.
Hello.
I'm not seeing my presentation, is that available?
Yes, give us a moment.
Sure. There you go.
Thank you.
My name's Gary Hedrick,
co-founder of San Clemente Green,
and we're down here at the San Onofri Nuclear
Generating Station.
And we have some concerns about
what's been happening there lately.
They misrepresented the condition of one of the cancers, number 72.
So, we requested that, we requested that they, can you go to the next slide, please?
So, they misrepresented the condition of cancer number 72.
They claimed that all of the, all of the photos are company confidential
and SCE is not doing enough visual inspections.
Next slide.
I'm sorry, it seems, anyway, we obtain photos, cancer number 72.
And I can't read my, there it says, oh well.
So this is the image of cancer number 72 that was provided in 2019.
And you see the corrosion which can lead to stress corrosion cracking.
Next slide.
This is a gouge in the same cancer number 72 on the other side.
And it can lead to cancer failure also, next.
So instead of showing us the same angle
of the cancer number 72,
they showed us a whole other view of that
and it's totally different.
Next slide.
You can see that it's nothing like the pictures I have.
And if you go to the next slide,
you'll see that their conclusion
is the scratches are still bright and shiny.
There's no evidence of corrosion or chloride induced stress-corrosion cracking precursor
activity.
Next slide.
So they're using that as a justification to say I have no intention.
Okay.
Next speaker, I guess.
Sorry, there seem to be technical difficulties if I could have finished that would be nice.
Please finish your thoughts, sir.
Am I allowed to speak or is there...
Just finish your thoughts.
Finish up, thank you.
We're in a race against time and if SCE won't cooperate,
we're sure to lose this race along with everything we love
about our little village by the scene.
So we're ready for the next speaker.
All right, thank you.
Next, Diane Edmonds.
Yes, I just wanted to say that we've got a lot
of different very esteemed organizations here listed.
The Sierra Club, Physicians for Social Responsibility,
Samuel Lawrence Foundation, Nuclear Energy Information
Services, Committee to Bridge the Gap, Mothers for Peace,
Coalition for Nuclear Safety, Orange County Coast Keepers,
Public Watch Dogs, Ecological Options Network,
all agree that this needs to be addressed,
the findings of these inspections of the canisters.
And they're also writing in to you, I believe.
Go to the next slide, please.
We've got a lot of attention that's been drawn
to the canister issue, the nuclear waste.
Surfer magazine has put out two articles recently
because of the Olympic surfing event
that's going to be held at Lower Trestles,
very close to the nuclear power plant.
Orange County Register has been continuing
excellent coverage about the nuclear waste issue
at San Onofre. Next slide. Next slide, please. David Lockbaum, formerly with the Nuclear
Regulatory Commission and Union of Concerned Scientists, quoted in the OC Register, saying,
rather than just picking a couple of canisters, inspections should focus on the ones that
we know are flawed. Thank you.
Thank you. Next is Mary Beth Branken. Okay, so our request is, can you please
give me the next slide? We want to all photos, we want you the commissioners to
demand that all the photos of the visual inspections are made public. This is
something you can do under your purview. They should be inspected and
re-inspected frequently. This is a common problem that is in all of the literature
of stress corrosion cracking and we've got five-eighths inch thick canisters
which don't take much to have a through-wall crack. So we need to be on
top of this. Next slide please. So we we have to add all of the canisters
actually because they and here's a message from a former San Onofre manager
who is responsible for the canisters stored on-site.
Did you have that audio?
You line up the canister with the over pack, the big concrete pack,
and you got this big ram that pushes the thing in.
Okay? Now, if the canister is not properly aligned with the over pack,
or is a little cock-eyed, for lack of a better word,
and you go push it in, it ain't gonna go in.
The ramp keeps pushing, the canister picks up a gouge, the gouge starts...
Okay, so you can see how the gouge can...
On the canister and it goes ahead and in the case of the canister, I did, it ripped the wall.
Now we looked at those gouges, they're pretty nasty. They were pretty huge.
I don't know maybe maybe it's okay but the walls a lot thinner in that can in that particular
canister now yeah the question is is that the only one thank you and next is james heddle
we haven't been able to promote you as a panelist please unmute yourself as an
attendee you should be able to unmute now go ahead james hello i'm james heddle uh with
Meredith Brangen and Morgan Peterson, we have produced the film S.O.S.
The San Onofre Syndrome, and in that film, we portray the recent chairman of your commission,
Padilla, saying as they approved the disastrous opinion to the option to go ahead with the
waist on the beach at San Onofre said
It is pardon my language a shitty deal, but we know what we have to do
But nevertheless, we're going to hold our nose and vote or some words to that effect and I hope you will not
today hold your noses and vote in the light of all the
Counter indications that have been presented to you just this morning. Thank you
Thank you. Our next speaker is Atalia Salvage followed by Peter McNamee, Jim
Holtz, and Janet Rogers. Atalia Salvage, give us a moment while we bring your
presentation up. Okay go ahead. I am Atalia Salvage with the Bayona
Wetlands Land Trust. During the Coastal Commission's April 2024 meeting, our team
appreciated your thoughtful handling of the issue of habitat stewardship at the
Biona wetlands. Today we are seeing results as in the picture shown. The healthy patches
of green wetland facultative plants like alkali heath and alkali weed are becoming more noticeable.
This is a perfect example of the progress that's possible when community advocates and
agencies like the California Department of Fish and Wildlife work together. Um, can you
show the next slide? Okay. Um, tomorrow we're keeping that momentum going with our stewardship
the city of Toronto. We hope
of Fort Bragg, California.
For over a hundred years, Fort Bragg's coastal headlands
were used to mill old growth trees into lumber.
As the forest shrank, the massive timber mill
covering one quarter of the land
within the city of Fort Bragg
became less and less profitable and was eventually closed.
During its years of operation,
the mill left a legacy of toxic chemical contamination
covering more than 400 acres of coastal lands.
In the scene of railway, also known as the skunk train,
purchased the contaminated mill site from Georgia Pacific.
In 2021, the railway announced plans
to build 500 units of residential, tourist,
and commercial facilities on the headlands.
Their plan also incorporated expanded train facilities
for maintaining locomotives and rail cars,
as well as building tracks along the coastal bluffs.
At a recent public meeting of the Fort Bragg City Council,
The public was informed of a plan by the railway titled the Iron Sherpa.
Under this plan, Mendocino railway intends to use a federally backed low interest loan
to develop a luxury five day hiking experience from Willets to Fort Bragg with retrofitted
train cars providing lodging each night, culminating with a last night stay in the retrofitted
train cars parked on the outer track facing the ocean adjacent to Glass Beach.
Mendocino Railway's plan exploits the coastal zone for its financial benefit
at the expense of the public's coastal interest. I urge the commission to bring
all its authority to bear to halt the exploitation of California's coastal zone
by Mendocino Railway. Thank you. Thank you. Next, Jim Holtz, Janet Rogers, and then a
group from uh scouting America, Camp Emerald Bay. Jim Holtz. Good morning commissioners.
Better Neighbors LA claims to be a correlation of advocates but they are really the hotel lobby
pushing to eliminate short-term rentals permanently. Yesterday they cited the Barcelona
STR ban but that was about overtourism not about our issues. This very group pushes for a blanket
STR ban in non-coastal cities. They cite paid, hotel-funded research to back their biased
narratives. But in coastal cities, where the Coastal Act blocks blanket STR bans, they pivot.
They sell a hosted-only model as a compromise. But is it really? The hosted-only model eliminates
the ability for families to stay together, cook, do laundry, and to enjoy the coast affordably
under one roof. Ask yourselves, do you want little Johnny sleeping in the next room over
from a stranger just because the host has to be on site? If you own an STR, do you want
to be required to live in the same room as your renters? That's our goal, to make STR's
undesirable for guests and unworkable for owners. In 2020 the Commission rejected Malaga's
hosted only proposal for this very reason, a policy that quote, eliminates the very people
we are here to protect. So what's changed? Maybe it was the Commission's research from a professor
from this very group placed on the December 2023 housing battle. He pushed hosted only like gospel
and the commissioners at the time ate it up. Hosted only is not balanced. It's a hotel sponsored
backdoor ban. Please don't fall for it. Thank you. Thank you. Next is Janet Rogers.
Yes, I have a slideshow. Yes, give us a moment to bring it up.
Okay, thanks. I'm Janet Rogers, co-chair of the San Diego Embarcadero Coalition. Next slide.
The Port's PMPU EIR is seriously flawed. I sent you the Port's resolution to certify the PMPU.
We expect you to do a much better job.
The port pretends the central Embarcadero isn't changing.
It left out 46% of the port land and water.
It is not comprehensive and piece meals.
Many categories only look at construction and not operations.
Next slide.
VMT for the Embarcadero shows no impact for employment,
although they plan to add seven new hotels.
Even without the Seaport project,
Total impact on VMT is significant
and unavoidable after mitigation.
Next slide.
The PMPU was approved with significant impacts
on nearly every category, which cannot be mitigated.
Will you certify this environmental disaster?
Next slide.
The port ignored all the environmental problems
and certified with overriding consideration.
The port thinks significant negative environmental impacts
OK, as long as they look like they tried to minimize.
Not good enough.
Next slide.
We don't agree with the port.
We are the ones who will suffer from the unmitigated and significant impacts on this list.
Our bay will suffer from environmental impacts to hydrology and water quality.
Next slide.
It is avoidable.
Act on your equivalent EIR and make the port change course so the adverse environmental
impacts are small and can be mitigated. Be stewards of the land and water and reduce
the negative environmental impacts. You can save the public tight lands for the people.
And also thank you for voting to oppose SB 675. Thank you.
Thank you. And next is the group from Scouting America, Camp Emerald Bay. We're starting with
Lee Harrison, and then we have 10 total with the group. We're only able to see
four in the Zoom meeting, but I believe a lot of you are sharing devices, so
gather around your devices. I'm gonna list out the names in the order that we
have and then you'll go in that order. So Rosalind, Violet Longhurst, Jeanette
Buffalino, Snow Lam Hanson, Victoria Carceler, Fast Hanna, Wyatt Hawes, Austin
Mary Diego Takishita, Takishita and Nicholas Limebok, but go ahead, Lee Harrison.
Good morning, thank you commissioners. My name is Lee Harrison. I'm the CEO for
Scouting America Los Angeles and we operate Camp Emerald Bay on Catalina
Island. This is our 101st year at the camp and I'd like to like to give you a
couple of statistics as I turn it before I turn it over to the volunteers, the
campers who wanted to share a little bit about their experiences who are
currently at the camp right now. I'm actually at our mountain camp and so
I'm not able to be with them. Annually we serve about 13 to 15,000 youth and
adults every year in three different programs. This summer is our summer camp
program. In the school year we do an outdoor education program and then we
work with other community groups on the weekends so we run 24-7 for about nine
the 10 months of the year. This year alone we will have provided camperships or scholarships
to over a thousand youth and some of them will be on the call today and that will total
about $400,000 that we've raised or either provided to the campers for camperships. And
the reason why we're picking today as opposed to next month is that most of the students
we'll be back in school and we wanted to have a chance for the scouts to be able to share
some of their experiences. Some of these will be youth and some of these will be adults
who've been coming for many, many years and some are brand new to the camp. And with that,
I'll turn it over to the next speaker. Thank you very much.
All right. If Rosalind Violet Longhurst is with you, go ahead.
Rosalind is not here. She had to leave.
Okay. And then Jeanette Buffalino.
Hi, I'm Jannepa Fellino, Skat Mauster of Troop 99 from Las Vegas, Nevada.
Our troop has been coming to Camp Embold Bay for the last 25 consecutive years.
Our scouts love this camp because of all the water activities that they offer,
the high adventure program that they offer. There's something here from the 11-year-olds to 17-year-olds
And it's just all the water, the boating, the kayaking, the scuba diving.
We consider Camp Emerald Bay our home camp because we're from the desert and we don't
have the water.
And it just offers so much that the younger scouts can interact with the older scouts.
The younger scouts work on the merit badges, the older scouts end up joining their rugged
programs which is canoeing around Catalina Island.
They talk about that all the time.
They love it.
They bring it back.
We do videos.
We show it to the troop each year at our meetings
and they keep wanting to come back year after year
because of this waterfront and everything they offer.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Next is Snow Lamb-Hanson.
Snow's also unavailable.
Okay, thank you.
Victoria Carseler.
Hi, thank you for having me.
I am Camp Emerald Bay's ranger director,
and I just wanted to talk about one of the programs
that our rangers run for the troops that come here.
We run what we call a war canoe program,
which is our overnight program.
So our scouts get to hop on nine person canoes
and canoe out into the open ocean
for two miles to Parsons Landing.
While they're on the beach,
they have the opportunity to go snorkeling
in a few different coves to go hiking
see the beautiful west end of Catalina Island. They also have opportunities to work as a team
as they're canoeing over in the canoes and cooking Dutch oven meals for dinner as well
setting up dining flies out on the beach. This overnight trip is really amazing and it gives
gouts the opportunity to build their team working skills, their leadership skills and it's a really
amazing opportunity to see more of our island and to also have the opportunity to be out on the open
ocean and it's just really amazing. I really personally believe this is what scouting and
camp is all about, pushing our scouts outside of their comfort zone and allowing them to to grow
and face adversity and to be able to do that out on the open ocean is really amazing. Our working
program is one of the things that keeps people coming back year after year. It's a really unique
opportunity and it's a really amazing program that I'm very thankful I get to help run this year.
Yeah, thank you.
Thank you.
Next pass, Hannah.
Hi, Happy Friday.
My name is Selena Pham from Troop 65, and I would love to share me and my troops' experience
here in Emerald Bay Camp, because truly this camp clearly stands out with the various activities,
events, merit badges, and experiences other camps don't offer.
It has really helped us earn a great amount of unique merit badges, not to mention the
events that take place here like the waterfront activities here in Catalina
waters. I have a bunch of badges such as sailing, motor boating, kayaking, canoeing,
life-saving, and oceanography just to name a few. And even award canoe day which is
really a great experience for scouting. And as amazing as this camp is, something
that our troops greatly appreciate is the camper ship Emerald Bay has offered us
because without it we were challenged to find a camp to attend this year with our
huge troops. To conclude my appreciation I would really like to thank all of
ammo bay staff for the support they've demonstrated to us throughout our stay
at this camp. It is a great definition of true scouting in the ASA. It has
significantly impacted our troops. Thank you Commission for your time and for
opportunity to speak and all of ammo bay for a wonderful experience. Thank you.
next is Wyatt Hawes. I believe Wyatt is unavailable as well. Okay and then Austin
Berry. I'm Austin Berry. I'm from Troops 770. This is my troops first time here at
Emerald Bay and we've been loving it really. We live in Vegas so we don't have
any water merit badges that we can complete so it's been a really good
opportunity for all of our older scouts and newer scouts to finally be able to
complete some water activities like small boat sailing, motorboating, canoeing,
rowing, anything really of the water spread above. The work and new trip was
really fun. I'm happy that this camp has more activities to do than some other
camps that we've been to in the past years because we most of the time it's
just like merit badges merit badges and then you're done for the day. This one
has the work in your trip where you go to Parsons Beach, take a canoe out there
It's really fun. And then you can also do all the waterfront activities in your free time
It's a really nice camp and it's a lot more clean than a lot of the other camps with their like
Trashes and then everything or can
Yeah
But all the activities and merit budgets here are really amazing. I'm very lucky to be able to come here with my
Troop to have all these water merit budgets. Thank you
All right. Thank you. Do you go Takishita?
I don't believe he's here. Okay and then Nicholas Landbach. All right good morning
commissioners my name is Nicholas Landbach I'm a volunteer here at Camp
Emerald Bay on Catalina Island. I've been working with this camp off and on
for almost the last 20 years now. I served on the camp staff when I was in
my youth and I still find that this place is my home this island is my home.
What I'd like to stress to the commissioners is the care and the love
and the stewardship that everyone here, whether on staff at the camp or you know
coming here for a week as a camper or a scout or a student, we take the
stewardship of this island very seriously. The waters here we you know we
call this Camp Emerald Bay for a reason. The waters here are perfectly crystal
green. It's a haven for scuba diving, snorkeling. I learned how to scuba dive
here. I've taught kids how to swim in these very waters here. I've led hundreds,
hundreds of canoe trips from this space here. We care about this island. We care
about the resources of Catalina Island. We care about making sure that this
island and this camp stays not only for, you know, our past but our future. We try
in stress conservation here with our kids we educate them on you know the
beauty of this place but the importance of maintaining this island and more you
know most importantly for some of these kids you know this is a fun spot to be
yeah we teach them so much there are so many wonderful experiences and for them
to experience and we appreciate everything the California Coastal
Commission does in keeping our waterways clean and safe and open for all.
And, uh, we hope that, you know, we can encourage more of that in the years to come.
Thank you so much.
Thank you.
Thanks for joining us today.
Uh, we have seven speakers remaining that we're able to find, uh, next
is Bruce Campbell, followed by Lauren Hanson and then Adam Burden.
Bruce Campbell.
I see you're on a phone.
You should be able to unmute now.
Hi there, commissioners.
I'm Bruce Campbell from Los Angeles.
I call upon the California Coastal Commission
to conduct a hearing and a thorough review
as to whether PG&E meets the criteria
to be issued a consistency determination
and a coastal development permit
in order to help extend the operating licenses
for Diablo Canyon's nuclear reactors.
This sensitive ecological area does not need
an additional 20 years of mass impingement
and entrainment of marine species,
where the Diablo Canyon Facility meets the Pacific.
This is beyond the five to six years granted
by the state late last decade to continue operation
despite still having a largely banned
once through cooling system.
I attended the Diablo Waste Discharge hearings
at the Water Board in 1981 and 1982.
So I'm well aware of the thermal heavy metal
and some radioactive pollution discharges
into the marine environment in relation
to the operation of Diablo's reactors.
PG&E wants this to sail under the radar
so they can continue being largely unresponsive
in regards to likely impacts of continued Diablo operations
on marine life such as black abalone in the area.
Even the history of the CCC related to San Onofre,
I do not have great faith,
but at least hold a hearing and do an analysis.
If nuclear power facility discussions
do not involve addressing spent fuel rod assemblies
from high burn-up fuel, as well as difficulties in repackaging and transporting large thin
overstuffed spent fuel canisters when the company's CEO admitted that the whole tech
canister cannot be inspected, repackaged, or transported, yet they plan to do so anyway.
Anyway, if you don't hear those discussions, you are being hoodwinked and distracted by
that corporate welfare queen, the reckless and expensive nuclear industry.
The public needs a hearing, please.
By the way, just a few miles from Diablo Canyon is the Hausbury Fault, the largest subsidiary
of the San Andreas Fault, which had at least a 7.3 quake in the Hausbury Fault zone on
November 4th 1927 west of Lompoc.
Thank you.
Thanks for your consideration.
Thank you.
Lauren Hansen, Adam Verdin, Carol Hisasu.
Lauren Hansen.
Thank you.
Good morning, Chair Harmon and commissioners.
My name is Lauren Hansen.
I serve as the board president of the Gelita Water District here in Santa Barbara County.
I'm not speaking in that capacity today, I'm speaking as a private citizen.
Like every other family in Santa Barbara County, my family lives downwind of Diablo Canyon
Nuclear Power Plant.
We are very aware of that fact, and for us, it's a big concern.
The continued operation of this outdated, very old facility is truly an existential
risk for the central coast communities near it and for all of us downwind.
Supporters of this aging nuclear facility minimize the risks
of it continuing to operate for up to 20 more years.
They poo poo the ongoing dangers to marine life,
to the environment and to human life. Those dangers are real as you know and
cannot be eliminated just pretending they aren't there.
Your commission will have the unique opportunity and responsibility to review critical elements
of PG&E's continued coastal zone activities at this nuclear plant. When PG&E finally submits
a complete application for what I believe is called the Coastal Zone Management Act permit,
I urge you to consider their request with appropriate skepticism and give it your serious
independent analysis. Your decision on this permit will likely be one of the most important ones
the commission will ever make. So thank you for doing everything you can, as always, to protect
our coast and all the living creatures who call this area home. Thank you. Next, Adam Virden.
Adam, I see that you're on a phone. You should be able to unmute now.
Hi there, my name, can you hear me okay? Yes, we can hear you. Wonderful. Commissioners,
Good morning and thank you very much for your service. My name is Adam Verdon, and I'm here
to support the continued operation of the Apple Canyon power plant. As you know, the plant provides
nearly 10% of California's electricity with zero carbon emissions. No other clean energy source
today can reliably replace the Apple Canyon, not without significant new infrastructure that would
impact the environment more than continuing to operate this existing and tightly regulated
facility. Beyond clean energy Diablo Canyon supports good paying jobs in our area vital
public services and the local economy as well here on the Central Coast. Thank you. Thank
you. Next Carol he says who followed by Linda crop and Teresa Brady. Carol. Hello, um, can
Can you hear me?
Yes.
We can hear you.
Go ahead.
Okay, good.
I'm Carol Hisasway from Los Osos.
In 2016, this commission ruled that PG&E must build cooling towers at Diablo Canyon to mitigate
the harmful effects of its once through cooling system.
The very same day, PG&E announced that it would not renew its operating licenses beyond
their term at the time and ask for an exemption, which you granted.
This was based on Diablo operating for a maximum of another nine years.
For the past nine years now, they've been operating in non-compliance with the Coastal
Commission ruling, and they are applying for another 20-year license.
The previous permits from the Commission expired for Unit 1 last November.
Unit 2's permits will end next month.
If you allow them to operate without building cooling towers, it sends a message that if
your big and politically connected enough
basically do as you wish.
There needs to be a hearing on this matter
as well as a thorough analysis of the environmental effects
of Diablo's continued operation.
Please consider that, thank you very much.
Thank you, next is Linda Krop,
but we seem to be having trouble promoting you
as a panelist.
You should be able to unmute now.
Okay, you're moving in as a panelist.
Go ahead when you're ready.
Good morning, my name is Linda Krop.
Council of the Environmental Defense Center speaking on behalf of Mothers for Peace regarding
Diablo Canyon. I'm here to address the Commission's review of the extension of Diablo Canyon and
I will focus on two issues. The requirement for federal consistency review and the need
for PG&E to apply for coastal development permit. It has been well over a year since
PG&E submitted a coastal zone consistency certification of the Commission. However,
application still remains complete and complete. In addition PG&E has not submitted an application
for a coastal development permit. As you know and as was just stated the existing entitlements for
Diablo Canyon have either expired as in the case of Unit 1 or will expire next month for Unit 2.
We therefore urge the Commission to schedule a hearing to review the status of the plant and
consider taking timely enforcement action. The failure of PG&E to submit complete information
should not stand in the way of ensuring compliance with the Coastal Act and the Coastal Zone
Management Act. This review is important to protect public health and safety, environmental
resources, and coastal access and recreation. As noted in several letters from commission staff
to PG&E, extension of operations at Diablo Canyon will impact marine resources due to the intake and
discharge of seawater based on a waiver of the state's once through cooling restrictions,
dredging seismic risks wetlands and environmentally sensitive habitat
obstruction of commercial and recreational fishing
and public access we look forward to resolution
of this issue in a timely manner thank you for your consideration of this
request thank you next Teresa Brady Nancy Weiss
and then Jack Neff Teresa Brady Teresa I see that you're in as a panelists I
do see a name Terry as well under the attendees list
with the right hand raise or are you on that device as well Teresa Brady you
should be able to unmute okay the person under the name Terry we're not hearing
any sound coming out of the mic but we see that you're unmuted okay we're
gonna move on and come back in a second Nancy Weiss okay now we can hear you go
ahead Teresa let's go ahead okay great I will hang up my phone so it doesn't
in our fear. Can you hear me? Yes, we can hear you. Do you hear me? Yes, we can hear
you. Can you hear me? Yes, go ahead. All right, I think I had the speakers off so I couldn't
hear you when I hung up my phone. Okay, so I wanted to thank you for your service to
the people of California and marine life. Am I echoing? Okay, today I would like to
ask for a full public review, public hearing, thorough analysis, before any consideration
of permits renewal for PG&E. Especially concerning are the routine discharge of radioactive material,
especially its effect on marine life, and the impact of likelihood of seismic events
on the chance of a radioactive accident.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Nancy Weiss.
I see that they're just moving in now as a panelist.
Nancy, when you're able to, please go ahead.
There you go.
Nancy, go ahead.
Thank you.
Good morning, Chair Harmon and commissioners.
My name is Nancy Weiss.
I'm a resident of Santa Barbara, one
the downwind communities of Diablo Canyon. I'm here to add my voice for a public hearing and
thorough analysis of Diablo Canyon's request for extended operation and certainly any past
violations. We need objective information, of course you do too, before we all know whether
it's seismically safe to continue what the impacts might be on marine life, what it really means
to stores, spent fuel, rods, etc. I certainly believe it should not operate unless it's proven
to be safe and that onus should be on PG&E and of course expertise that could be offered to the
Commission. So again, thank you in advance for holding a formal hearing. Thanks again.
Thank you. Jack Neff? Commissioner and Chair, Coastal Commission Chair and Coastal Commissioners,
Thank you for the opportunity to speak. I am joining the voices, Bruce Campbell,
DeReesa Brady, the previous speaker, calling for a hearing on Diablo Canyon
before PG&E has given any additional benefit. Their work has been
slipshod, their safety record, horrible design, flaws clearly apparent in 45 years.
I think that the Coastal Commission is maybe the critical line of defense in saving the
California coast from these hot water discharges and radioactive effluent. PG&E has not been open
and above board with their information and their attempts at compliance are feeble. So I'm hoping
Hoping the Coastal Commission will demand a hearing and look for hard data that will
result in safety for Californians.
Thank you.
And then we have five names that we weren't able to find in our ZIM list, who I'm going
to call your names and if you hear your name, please raise your hand.
John Gologli, Dr. Ruth Strauss, Robert Roy VandeHook,
Marilyn Brown, Connor Filson.
If you're on the phone,
you can raise your hand by dialing star nine.
Okay, I'm seeing no hands raised, Madam Chair.
Awesome, thank you very much.
And thank you to the public as always
for sharing your perspective.
I'd like to start just by asking Director Hucklebridge
if she could give us a brief overview
of where things are with Diablo
One of the key things to be
able to do is to provide the
information on where the
commission is and our role in
that process.
Thank you.
Thank you, chair, excuse me for
my voice.
Because I don't have a voice and
because we have really
experienced staff online, I'm
going to turn it over to Cassie
Toifel to provide that update.
Cassie?
Thank you, Dr. Hucklebridge.
And through the chair, happy to
provide that update.
extended until November of 2024 and the other that runs until the end of next month.
Until 2022, PG&E had been planning to cease operating the power plant and begin decommissioning
upon expiration of those licenses. Senate Bill 846, as you heard, was enacted in 2022
and called on the establishment of new retirement dates of 2029 and 2030 for the reactor units.
Consistent with that legislation, PG&E has spent the last few years seeking the necessary
licenses and authorizations to continue plant operations, including from the Commission.
We're currently pursuing review of a Coastal Development Permit application for extended
operations and a consistency certification for the 20-year license PG&E is seeking from
the NRC.
While the extended operation dates included in SB 846 were only five years past the plant's
current license terms. Because PG&E is seeking a new 20-year license from NRC,
our federal consistency review is based on that duration of operations.
As you heard on Wednesday from our colleagues at the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control
Board, both the Commission's federal consistency review and the Water Board's Clean Water Act
review would need to conclude before NRC could issue new operating licenses to PG&E.
We've been working diligently to complete our review and had been targeting this July hearing
to ensure a commission decision prior to next month's license expiration date but received a
request recently from PG&E to instead target a later hearing date in order to continue efforts
to come to a common understanding regarding the scope of the commission's review and appropriate
means of addressing the coastal resource impacts of continued operations, particularly those to the
marine environment stemming from the daily entrainment of two and a half billion gallons
of seawater and associated marine life through the plant's cooling system. Given the progress
we're making, as well as the additional time needed to complete ongoing tribal consultation,
we've agreed to target a later hearing date. We're therefore looking to complete our review
in the coming months and bring the project before the Commission later this year.
I also wanted to note that because NRC has a complete application before them,
They've granted an extension to PG&E that allows the plant to continue operating past the expiration date of the current licenses.
So there's no risk of the plant ceasing operations during the course of these reviews.
That concludes my update. Happy to answer any questions.
Thank you very much, Mr. Twifle. Okay, does anyone have any questions around public comment?
Commissioner Wilson.
Do we have anything coming to us about the Emerald Bay Camp on Catalina?
I'm not aware of anything coming before us, so we're I was trying to figure out
that very question but did appreciate hearing all the amazing public comment
about the camp and seems like they have a really great operation going. Yeah I
want to say I my kids fifth grade teacher went to that camp and I would
say his science program was amazing and he is very inspired by it and talks
about it all the time so I'm just gonna say it has impacted my family very
indirectly but great I'm glad it's not coming to us in some former fashion just
keep rolling guys just not that I'm aware yeah great I hope those young public
speakers got a badge joining us today okay commissioner not off well I just
wanted to thank the public for tracking the process at Oceana Dunes so
carefully and you know we're here in San Luis Obispo County. I hope that the
county of San Luis Obispo heard the points that were made and that they will
look at their LCP and updated accordingly. Commissioner Jackson. Thank
you Madam Chair. Appreciate all the public comment today. Just staff's
of tension could you address the Fort Bragg mills cleanup and previous owners
responsibility for addressing those concerns sure and thank you Commissioner
Jackson the under under the law the Georgia Pacific is jointly and
separately liable liable for cleaning up the for the mill site but as part of a
settlement for the eminent domain case that Mendocino Railway brought against
Georgia Pacific to obtain the mill site land there was an agreement that
Mendocino Railway would take on those responsibilities on behalf of Georgia
Pacific so between those two entities that's how they divided the
responsibility but under the law technically Georgia Pacific is still a
a potentially responsible party and jointly it's not really liable for it.
And if just a quick follow-up is so is anything being done by the new owner to fulfill its
obligation then under that agreement?
So it's my understanding that and Mendocino Railway is working with the Department of
Toxic Substances Control on mitigation and cleanup but I am not aware of the status of
that.
Thank you.
Okay seeing no other comments or questions we will move on and I believe
that brings us to the consent calendar the items that were removed to consent
or item. Absolutely. Item six provides for applications to be moved from the
regular calendar to the consent calendar. There is one North Coast item that we
are recommending be moved to consent which is item 9a the Humboldt County
the LCP amendment to update the county signed regulations.
Staff is not aware of any opposition
and we are recommending that the commission vote
and approve this item.
Great, thank you.
Are there any ex partes to report?
I have one ex parte to report.
It's just that I got a call from Jennifer Kult
of Humble Baykeeper yesterday.
just saying that they're in agreeance.
They think this is a good thing, so that's it.
Thank you.
Are there any public speakers on this item?
I hope you have no speakers for this item.
Wonderful, thank you.
Do three or more commissioners object,
or excuse me, does anyone want to remove this item
from the Kinshine calendar?
I don't want to remove it, but I want to speak to it.
Please.
can we just, do we do a motion on this, do we do motion?
I wanna move consent before I,
and I'll speak to my motion.
Second.
All right, thank you.
All right, so I appreciate the commission.
I'm just gonna, just a few things I wanna say about this,
which is I know it's an issue that is sort of a bit
a controversial one in Humboldt County, but I want to point out and to put
forward that I think around 1964 was the Federal Highway Beautifications Act
that was done basically to address the highway signage that was just prolific
across the United States, and it was not just prolific in commercial areas but in
scenic areas all over the United States, and so there was an actual act, a federal
act that was created to mitigate and reduce and seek to actually remove these structures
from our public trust areas.
And so sometime later in the 70s, California did the Outdoor Advertising Act to bolster
that which still exists today and it's it's in its essence it's to move these
structures billboards from scenic areas and move them into commercial areas
that's kind of its goal and this very summarizing very very whatever and so
then a lot of jurisdictions the counties and cities created ordinances to confirm
the non-conforming status of these structures so that eventually they could
be moved out of those areas. And some counties like Marin and other counties
did that a long time ago and they've removed these structures from their scenic
areas. Humboldt County is doing it today. So we're getting there. One way
or another we're getting there. And I want to emphasize that folks across the
state of California, if you have ordinances already in place that may have
already been doing this. Sometimes we forget that when we created... And when
we did these ordinances in the past that we created these non-conforming
status, it basically created a amortization period for removal of these structures
in your community. And because that amortization period is 15 years or more,
sometimes we forget that actually that reconstruction, if they fall down or even
and repairs on them are actually non-conforming, and so you can actually seek to see the removal
of these structures within your community by enforcement of your existing ordinances.
And so I just want to point that out.
In Humboldt County, and specifically in the coastal zone, we have many of these structures
in public trust resources.
They're actually in wetlands.
They're in Humboldt Bay.
San Francisco Bay also has structures that are in wetlands in Humboldt Bay, or in San
San Francisco Bay, and they're also in other scenic areas.
We have billboards in Humboldt County that are on state park lands and as well as Fish
and Wildlife in Delano County and other places.
So they're non-conforming, they also sometimes have lights that cause problems with wildlife
and other things.
Anyways, I just want to thank this commission for, and I want to thank the staff, the North
North Coast staff were actually modifying our ordinance to make it even better and stronger.
Considering the legislation that was attempted this year to make a rebuilding of these nonconforming
structures to be to have no regulation on them whatsoever. And so that was pushed back.
That doesn't mean it won't be attempted again. But this language will help Humboldt County
defend ourselves from that. And I encourage other jurisdictions to really look at that
because billboard companies tend to use the Outer Advertising Act as a shield against
local code and ordinances that try and regulate this and not just code about where they should
be but also whether they're safely built and other things like that. So that was it. So
my comments thank you so much you guys for letting me do this and again if
there are local jurisdictions across the state of California they might want to
look at this ordinance as an example that that they may use thanks thank you
Commissioner Wilson so we have a motion by Commissioner Wilson a second by
Commissioner Kelly and we'll need to do a roll call vote because Vice Chair Hart
is online. Okay Commissioner Escalante. Yes Commissioner Hart. Yes. Hart yes
Commissioner Jackson. Aye. Jackson yes Commissioner Kelly. Aye. Kelly yes
Commissioner Lowenberg. Yes. Lowenberg yes Commissioner Nodhoff. Aye. Nodhoff yes
Yes, Commissioner Presiado.
Yes.
Presiado, yes.
Commissioner Turnbull-Sanders.
Yes.
Turnbull-Sanders, yes.
Commissioner Wilson.
Yes.
Wilson, yes.
Chair Harmon.
Yes.
Harmon, yes.
The vote is unanimous.
Great.
Congratulations.
Consent calendar is adopted.
Now we'll move to item seven.
Thank you, Chair.
brings us to item seven and the deputy director report for the energy ocean resources and federal
consistency division we have two negative determinations to report today as well as two
waivers for the commission's consideration those waivers are for southern california edison to
replace three generators at the pebble beach generating station on catalin island and for
the removal of aquaculture equipment from a state aquaculture lease in tamales bay marine county
as part of a lease transfer and change in operator. I don't believe we have any speakers
signed up for these items, so I'd ask whether three or more commissioners object to the waivers
in the deputy director report. Thank you Mr. Toyful. Any ex partes?
Confirming there are no speakers? No speakers. Great. Do three or more commissioners object to
any of the items on the report? Seeing no objection, that commission concurs. Thank you very much.
Now we will move to the North Coast District Deputy Director's Report. Thank you.
Item 8 is the Deputy Director's Report for the North Coast District which includes six waivers,
one immaterial amendment, and one permit extension projects in the Humboldt County area.
I would note that an additional item is being pulled from this report due to some newly raised
concerns that we are working with the applicant to address. Therefore, Immaterial Amendment
application one dash eight two dash two four four eight two for the Charbonneau
residents in Benesino County is not being reported today and will be
scheduled at a future hearing. For the other matters being reported to you
today staff is not aware of any opposition and we are asking whether
three or more commissioners object to any items in this report. We're available
for questions. Thank you any ex partes? Okay any public speakers? I know we just
just have one available for questions. Great, thank you. Do three or more
commissioners object to any item on the deputy directors report? Seeing no
objections, the commission concurs. And I believe that brings us to the close of
the July hearing special. As always, thanks to our staff and to our team for
putting on this hearing and to the public for their participation. We will
We'll see you all next month.
I don't remember where, but we will see you.
In Calabasas.
In Calabasas.
Thank you.